Single lesson
The Disciples Pick Grain on the Sabbath
Matthew 12:1–8; Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–5
In this lesson, children will trace what happened when Jesus’ disciples picked grain on the Sabbath, hear the Pharisees’ complaint, and listen carefully to Jesus’ answer about mercy, need, and his authority.
Before you teach
Matthew, Mark and Luke each tell this account in a grain field on the Sabbath. The disciples were hungry and picked grain to eat. Pharisees objected that this was not lawful on the Sabbath, and Jesus answered by referring to David, the priests in the temple, one greater than the temple, mercy, and the Son of Man as Lord of the Sabbath.
Students will be able to put the account in order and explain that Jesus defended his disciples, said the Sabbath was made for people, and said the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
Welcome: What happened in the grain fields?
5 minShow a bowl of grain, oats, or dry grass heads if available. Tell the class they will hear about a Sabbath day when Jesus and his disciples went through grain fields. The disciples were hungry, so they plucked heads of grain and ate. Luke adds that they rubbed them in their hands. Explain that this is the starting point of the account.
Matthew 12:1, Mark 2:23, Luke 6:1
Read and explain: The Pharisees object
7 minRead the three accounts aloud. Ask children to listen for the problem raised by the Pharisees. They said the disciples were doing what was not lawful on the Sabbath. Explain simply that the complaint was about what the disciples were doing on that day. Keep the focus on what the text actually says and who speaks.
Matthew 12:2, Mark 2:24, Luke 6:2
Discuss: Jesus answers from Scripture and speaks about himself
7 minJesus answered by asking whether they had read about David when he and his companions were hungry. In Matthew, he also mentioned priests in the temple on the Sabbath, then said, ‘one greater than the temple is here’. Explain carefully that in this passage Jesus speaks with greater authority than the temple. Then he says, ‘I desire mercy’, and calls the disciples guiltless.
Matthew 12:3, Matthew 12:4, Matthew 12:5, Matthew 12:6, Matthew 12:7, Mark 2:25, Mark 2:26, Luke 6:3, Luke 6:4
Make and respond: Sequence cards of the account
7 minChildren make four simple cards: hungry disciples, Pharisees question, Jesus gives examples, Jesus says who he is. After drawing or writing each step, they place the cards in order and retell the account with a partner. Encourage them to include Jesus’ words about the Sabbath being made for man and the Son of Man being Lord of the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:1, Matthew 12:2, Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:27, Mark 2:28, Luke 6:5
Closing: Priests, temple, mercy, and Lord of the Sabbath
4 minReview Matthew’s order together: priests in the temple are mentioned, then Jesus says, ‘one greater than the temple is here’, then he says, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’, and then, ‘the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath’. Ask the class how this helps explain why Jesus defended the disciples as guiltless.
Matthew 12:5, Matthew 12:6, Matthew 12:7, Matthew 12:8
Questions to explore
Why did the disciples start picking grain as they went through the fields?
Look for the simple reason given at the start of the account and include what they did with the grain.
Matthew 12:1, Luke 6:1
What complaint did the Pharisees make about the disciples’ actions?
Use the repeated words about what was or was not lawful on the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:2, Mark 2:24, Luke 6:2
In Matthew’s account, what comes after the priests in the temple, and how do Jesus’ words lead on to mercy and the Sabbath?
Follow the order in Matthew: priests in the temple, ‘one greater than the temple is here’, ‘I desire mercy’, and ‘the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath’.
Matthew 12:5, Matthew 12:6, Matthew 12:7, Matthew 12:8
Make, think or respond
Four-Step Sabbath Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or crayons
- Scissors
- Markers
Try it together
- Fold or cut paper into four cards.
- Draw or label one scene on each card: disciples pick grain, Pharisees question, Jesus gives Scripture examples, Jesus says the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
- Mix the cards up, then place them back in order as a retelling activity.
- Pair children to explain each card using words from the passage.
- If time allows, children circle the card that best shows mercy or Jesus’ authority and explain why.
This activity helps children sequence the account and remember Jesus’ response about mercy, people’s need, and his authority over the Sabbath.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the four card titles for them to trace and let them focus on putting pictures in order.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add short speech bubbles using exact phrases such as ‘one greater than the temple is here’, ‘The Sabbath was made for man’, and ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath’.
An optional closing prayer
'Lord Jesus, thank you for this account. Please help us listen carefully to your words, love mercy, and remember that you are Lord of the Sabbath.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 12
1 At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”
3 But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:
4 how he entered into God’s house and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?
6 But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Mark 2
23 He was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain.
24 The Pharisees said to him, “Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”
25 He said to them, “Did you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry—he, and those who were with him?
26 How he entered into God’s house at the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?”
27 He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28 Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
Luke 6
1 Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands.
2 But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?”
3 Jesus, answering them, said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,
4 how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?”
5 He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.